Mdina By Day

Time travel, as we are all too well aware, remains the stuff of science fiction. One day maybe but not for now. Sadly that means we will never be able to flick a switch and appear in the middle of a medieval joust armed with a six-pack and a video camera.

However, in Malta we do have one of the closest things you will ever find to time travel – all you need to do is hop on a bus bound for the ancient city of Mdina.

From the second you step through its imposing gates it will truly feel like you have turned back the clock several hundred years. The narrow streets, fascinating architecture and overall ambience of this stunning place make it one of Malta’s most visited sites.
And with very good reason!

As you walk in, try to block out the image of the tourists clicking their way down the cobbled lanes and, instead, imagine knights in armour marching up and down looking important and generally acting as if they owned the place – which they pretty much did.

And, to top it all off, if you walk to the end of the city – not that far, so the non-energetic among you need not panic – you will be rewarded with the most magnificent view of the island imaginable. If you want to enjoy the view with the best chocolate cake on the island then head for the cafe called Fontanella. Perched on the battlements, this is an Mdina institution. 

For the more cultural types there are plenty of attractions within the walls of Mdina - numerous museums and historical sites, as well as the city’s imposing cathedral. This city used to be the island’s capital, which is why it’s easy to spot how much wealth there was once here as you walk around its streets and look at the imposing properties. It all changed when the Knights of Malta turned up, fought off the Ottoman Empire in the Great Siege and built a new capital city called Valletta.

Getting to Mdina is easy, whether you take one of the many buses or drive in a hire car, or go by taxi and there are plenty of officially organised tours, which visit the former capital city every day. Visiting Malta without visiting Mdina is not a criminal offence. But it certainly should be. So go!


Parking can be difficult in peak tourist season so the Arriva buses, or one of the tourist buses that tour the island would be our recommendation. There are regular buses to and from the former capital city.

Alternatively, if you do decide to come by car then take a quick look at your map before setting off.  It’s not hard to find and you’ll need the geographical skills of a potato to miss it as, due to its touristic importance, Mdina is very well signposted from all major roads.